More than a year of product tests from the pages of Personal Computer World. Desktop PCs, Antivirus software, CD writers, Databases, Digital Cameras, DTP software, Hard drives, Image editors, Monitors, Motherboards, Notebooks, PDAs, Printers, Visual programming software, webcams, DVD-ROM drives, scanners, and much more.

The group tests are presented as Adobe Acrobat files, to preserve the original layouts. You can browse or search each feature, copy text directly from the documents, or print them out for easier reading or reference.

INDEX TO FEATURES

• Accounts software (August 2000) • Anti-Virus packages (June 2000) • Banking online (February 2001) • CD Writers (June 2000) • Databases (Feb 2000) • Digital camcorders (March 2001) • Digital cameras (January 2000) • Digital cameras (January 2001) • DTP software (March 2000) • DVD-ROM drives (August 2000) • Graphics cards (October 2000) • Hard drives (April 2000) • Image editors (January 2000) • Internet image editors (October 2000) • Linux distributions (April 2001) • Monitors - 17in (September 2000) • Monitors (May 2000) • Monitors - Flat-panel monitors (April 2001) • Motherboards (March 2000) • Motherboards (November 2000) • MP3 players (January 2001) • Music sequencers (December 2000) • Networks - easy networks (November 2000) • Notebook PCs (April 2000)

• Notebook PCs (May 2001) • PC systems - stylish (October 2000) • PCs - Best of the Best (January 2000) • PCs - Easy PCs (February 2000) • PCs - Power PCs (March 2000) • PCs built to entertain (December 2000) • PCs for £1200 (May 2000) • PCs for students (September 2000) • PCs for the family (July 2000) • PCs for the web (August 2000) • PCs for Windows 2000 (June 2000) • PCs - speed merchants (March 2001) • PCs - value for money (February 2001) • PCs - £899 PCs (April 2001) • PCs - £799 PCs (May 2001) • PDAs (December 2000) • PDAs (May 2000) • Printers - inkjet (July 2000) • Printers - laser (February 2000) • Printers - entry level lasers (March 2001) • Scanners - flatbed (February 2001) • Servers for SMEs (September 2000) • Visual programming (April 2000) • Webcams (July 2000)

	£1,200 PCs May 2000			Anti-Virus Packages June 2000
The worst thing about a PC is that as soon as you get it home it 's out of date. To help you out, we've found some good all-round machines costing just £1,200,with a better life expectancy.			With the rise of the Internet it's all the more important to protect your PC from the multitude of viruses out there. We take a look at a dozen products to see how well they cope with some of the world's most evil viruses.

	Best of the Best PCs January 2000			CD Writers June 2000
Looking for an award-winning PC? We challenged all of the computer companies that scooped a PCW prize in 1999 to send us a well-rounded system, which Santa would be proud to deliver.			CD writers aren't the luxury item they once were, and these days PC vendors include one in even an average machine. So if you haven't joined the in-crowd yet secretly yearn to burn, check out our indispensable guide to 18 top drives.

	Databases February 2000			Digital Cameras January 2000
Traditional databases are facing a new challenge to survive in a web-enabled world. So how are established and new databases coping with life in cyberspace?			The world of photography is a simple, fuss-free place when seen through the cyber eye of a digital camera. As resolutions rocket and prices plummet we pick the best machines on offer.

	DTP Software March 2000			Easy PCs February 2000
Do you want to do your own publishing? Give the designer in you a free hand and check out what we've got to say on both the small user and professional packages available.			The most powerful PC is useless if you can't find the 'on' button. 'Plug and play' usability is of key importance to the novice, so the PCW team went looking for a PC that's as easy as A-B-C.

	Hard Drives April 2000			Image Editors January 2000
You can never have too much hard-disk space, and a good hard drive can mean the difference between waiting for data or getting on with your life. To help you make that all-important decision, we've put 15 EIDE and SCSI drives through their paces.			Give free rein to the artist in you and check out our selection of image-editing packages. These are especially useful if you want to be able to manipulate pictures for the web.

	Monitors May 2000			Motherboards March 2000
For something you spend so much of your time looking at, the humble monitor simply doesn't get the attention it deserves. With a rash of affordable larger models hitting the market, there has never been a better opportunity to stake your claim for a decent-sized chunk of desktop real estate.			There's no getting away from it - different processors need different motherboards. But don't panic, we've done the hard work for you, by looking closely at the design, features and ease of operation for a massive 30 offerings.

	Notebooks April 2000			PDAs May 2000
If you're one of those people who spend half their life on the go, the chances are you'll have given serious thought to getting a notebook. And whether it's the power of desktop-replacement models or the portability of ultra-slim machines you're looking for, we've got something for you.			It's with you all the time - without it you feel lost - palmtops and handhelds have a special place in many users' hearts and arguments abound over the best form factor and OS, but there are other considerations. We've looked at the 12 best devices to help you make the right decision.

	Printers February 2000			Power PCs March 2000
Every business has different printing needs, but whether you're looking for speed or quality, low-end or high-end, we've got what you need. So sit back, relax, and follow our in-depth guide...			AMD and Intel are vying for the top spot in the high-end PC arena and home power users are weighing up the options. We put 11 top-of-the-range machines through their paces.

	Visual Programming April 2000			Windows 2000 PCs June 2000
You may think there's not much in it - four packages from two vendors - but, as Tim Anderson finds out, it's the subtle differences that make or break a development tool, especially in today's web-oriented world.			If you're looking to buy a business machine that will have few problems running Windows 2000, we've tested the pick of the crop.

	Family PCs July 2000			Inkjet printers July 2000
As processors get faster and memory and drive capacities rise,it’s important to remember that not everyone necessarily needs this amount of computing power. We look at PCs that offer good all-round value for money, and a good bundle, as well as performance.			After the PC itself, the inkjet has become an essential and increasingly affordable piece of equipment. So, if you need to produce professional-quality photos, or just want to print that important word-processing document, check out this group test.

	Webcams July 2000			DVD-ROM drives August 2000
On the web you ’ll find everything from glimpses of Albert Square to copulating couples. If you’ve got a website and an Internet connection, then all you need to join in the fun is a webcam and a simple piece of software to upload them for all the world to see.			DVD-ROMs are standard fare on new PCs these days but deciding which one to buy can be daunting. We’ve tested 12 of the best,including some with CD-RW features, to help you make your choice.

	Web PCs August 2000			Accounts software August 2000
Speed is all very well but there are some applications, such as web design,where there are more important points to consider than how fast your computer is. We challenged 10 suppliers to come up with a package aimed at web developers.			Do you really want to spend your working week fighting spreadsheets or old-fashioned ledgers? If the answer is ‘no’ - and we hope it is - we’ve drawn together six small-business accountancy software packages to help you figure out your finances.

	17in monitors September 2000			SME servers September 2000
A good monitor is a vital ingredient of your PC system, so knowing the good from the bad is important. We invited 13 suppliers of 17in screens to let us test their mettle.			Many small businesses are looking to client/server environments to satisfy their networking needs, so we challenged 10 server manufacturers to come up with products to suit this growing market.

	Student PCs September 2000			Graphics cards October 2000
For those making the most of their university years, or last-minute crammers with exams at stake, your own PC can be a godsend. We asked 16 manufacturers to put together a system within a student budget of £999 and with a student’s needs (academic, not alcoholic) in mind.			Gamers are always looking for the best and fastest graphics cards, so we took a look at 14 of the best around to see how well they performed under rigorous tests in our labs.

	Internet image editors October 2000			Stylish PC systems October 2000
Getting great graphics onto a web page is a totally different ball-game to conventional image editing, but we’ve checked out a selection of software packages that can help you produce great results.			If you’ve coveted the iMac for its looks, read on, because this month we challenged 12 manufacturers to come up with a slimline system you’d be proud to have in your living room.

	Motherboards November 2000			Easy networks November 2000
Building your own PC allows you not only to keep the project within budget, but also to choose what components you want, and itÆs vital to get the motherboard right, so weÆve put 21 Intel and AMD boards to the test.			Building a network for a small office need not be complex and to prove it weÆve gathered together seven starter kits to see how easy they are to install and use.

	PCs built for entertainment December 2000			Pocket power - PDAs December 2000
Some of the fastest processors and best graphics cards around are on test this month in these ultimate entertainment PCs, so start reading if you want to have fun with your PC.			If youÆre looking to buy a PDA this is the best place to discover the pros and cons of the 15 palmtops, handhelds and laptop replacements weÆve put to the test.

	Sequencers December 2000			MP3 players January 2001
Do you want to make dance music but know little about the mechanics of music creation? TodayÆs modern music software can give you the opportunity to become the next Judge Jules. Ian Waugh tests the software that gets you moving.			Music while you work... play... cycle... and in a tiny format too. Personal Computer World puts 19 MP3 players head-to-head an lets them fight it out for the sound crown.

	Digital cameras January 2001			Value for money PCs February 2001
Digital cameras have come a long way in a short space of time. Personal Computer World has put 14 snappers - from budget to fully featured - to the test.			It’s time to check out the January sales, so we’ve put together 13 value-for-money PCs that won’t break the bank at £1,200 each.

	Online banking February 2001			Flatbed scanners February 2001
Are you still going into the local branch your bank (if you’ve still got one!) to deposit cash or pay your bills? Well, you’re behind the times because online banking is the way forward. Paul Gosling explains the ins and outs and reviews 20 online banks.			With the flatbed scanner now a ubiquitous piece of kit we put 11 of the leading models to the test.

	Digital camcorders March 2001			Speed merchant PCs March 2001
Digital video cameras offer a massive leap in picture quality over their analog counterparts and pave the way for professional desktop video editing. We put seven of the latest models to the test.			As processor speeds continue to rise we challenged PC manufacturers to send us some fast systems - but speed isn’t everything; we wanted some well-balanced PCs suitable for power users. So how did they fare?

	Entry-level laser printers March 2001			£899 PCs April 2001
If you’re after laser-quality reproduction from your printer but worry about the expense, then look no further as we put 10 entry-level offerings through their paces.			Falling prices prices of processors and memory mean you can get more PC for your money. We challenged a dozen manufacturers to give us their best shot for a bargain price of £899.

	Linux distributions April 2001			Flat-panel monitors April 2001
The increasing popularity of the Unix-flavoured operating system poses a real threat to Microsoft’s crown. Here we look at seven leading Linux distributions with designs on your PC.			Thin is in! If you’re bored of your bulky, aging CRT monitor and want something a bit more slimline and sexy, read on because we’ve given 16 LCD flat panels the PCW screen test.

	£799 PCs May 2001			Notebook PCs May 2001
We posed a stiff challenge to a dozen contenders and dropped our system price to £799. Read on to find out whether they came up with the goods and disproved the idea that ‘cheap is nasty’.			Whether you’re looking for a desktop replacement or an ultra-portable, this is the place to be as we’ve put a grand total of 24 notebooks through their paces.